Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1180’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1180’, characterized by its uniform, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; mid-season flowering response; inflorescences with dark orange-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PER1180’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘PER1180’.

The new Poinsettia a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding programis to create new Poinsettia cultivars having flower bracts withdesirable colors, uniform plant habit and excellent post-productionlongevity.

The new Poinsettia originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in December, 2002 of a proprietary selection of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 02-3535, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent, with a proprietary Poinsettia selectionidentified as PE1-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thecultivar PER1180 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in December,2003. The selection of this plant was based on its attractive flowerbract colors and good plant form and substance.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled environment in Encinitas, Calif., sinceJanuary, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettiaare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar PER1180 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PER1180’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PER1180’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Mid-season flowering response; under natural season        conditions, plants flower in about nine weeks in Encinitas,        Calif.    -   6. Inflorescences with dark orange-colored flower bracts.    -   7. Excellent post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif. plants of thenew Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of the female parentselection in plant uniformity and leaf color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of the male parentselection in flower bract shape.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Poinsettiacultivar Eckadire, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,846. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differed from plants of the cultivar Eckadire in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were less vigorous than plants        of the cultivar Eckadire.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and cultivar Eckadire differed        in flower bract color.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of thePoinsettia cultivar Peterstar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,259.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Poinsettia differed from plants of the cultivar Peterstar in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar Peterstar.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the cultivar Peterstar        differed in flower bract shape.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and cultivar Peterstar differed        in flower bract color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia. These photographs show the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Poinsettia.

The photograph at the bottom of sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘PER1180’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘PER1180’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in theaforementioned photographs and the following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. during thespring in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and under conditions andpractices which approximate those generally used in commercialPoinsettia production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures averaged 24° C., night averaged 19° C. and light levelswere about 4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for typical flowering plants. Single plants weregrown in 16.5-cm pots and pinched one time. Plants were about 14 weeksold when the photographs and the detailed description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima cultivar PER1180.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number 02-3535, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number PE1-1, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at 20° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            20° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Uniform, upright, outwardly spreading            and mounded plant habit; inverted triangle. Inflorescences            positioned above the foliar plant. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 26 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 38 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about ten lateral branches develop after pinching.            Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length:            About 1.8 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 11.2 cm. Width: About 7.2 cm. Shape: Elliptical;            lobed. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire with            lobes. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Slightly            pubescent. Surface: Rugose. Color: Developing foliage, upper            surface: 147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 147B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 146B.            Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Darker than 147A;            venation, 146C. Petiole: Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter:            About 2.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 182B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Inflorescences are compound            corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the            cyathia. One inflorescence per lateral branch. Flowers are            not fragrant. Flowers persistent. Inflorescences positioned            above the foliage.        -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn/winter; inflorescence            initiation and development is induced under long nyctoperiod            conditions. Mid-season flowering; response time, about nine            weeks under natural season conditions in Encinitas, Calif.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good            substance and bract color for about four weeks under            interior conditions.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 30 cm. Height (depth):            About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 28. Length,            largest bracts: About 13 cm. Width, largest bracts: About            10.3 cm. Shape: Elliptical, lobed. Apex: Acuminate. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire with shallow lobes. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect; Horizontal;            slightly recurved. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:            Developing or transitional bracts, upper surface: 45A.            Developing or transitional bracts, lower surface: 47B. Fully            developed bracts, upper surface: 43B. Fully developed            bracts, lower surface: 39B. Venation, upper and lower            surfaces: Similar to flower bract color. Bract petiole:            Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: 43C.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 16. Diameter of cyathia            cluster: About 3 cm. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color, immature: 146D. Color, mature: 146C.            Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: About one or two. Size:            About 3 mm by 4 mm. Color: 7A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect; Upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:            About 15. Anther shape: Oval; bi-lobed. Anther length: Less            than 1 mm. Anther color: 53A. Amount of pollen: Scarce.            Pollen color: 9A. Pistils: None observed. Seed/fruit: Seed            and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettias.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° C. to about    30° C.

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1180’ as illustratedand described.